I like this site, FindABetterBank.com. The site looks at where you live, the features you want, and your banking habits to suggest a checking account with the lowest fees. http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Would you work for Wal-Mart?
Wal-Mart is hiring 22,000 workers across the country, including 1,000 or more workers in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia,” according to a CNN story. Because of the recession, however, I’m wondering if people are applying for and taking jobs they wouldn’t otherwise consider. http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Why traditional budgeting is WRONG
Most budgets look backwards. You pull out your bills and receipts from the past month and add up what you spent. That number indicates how much you will spend this month, right? Wrong! A better budget looks forward. http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Saving money on student loans
Two major changes are coming to Perkins, Stafford and Grad Plus student loans starting July 1. To get the details, I interviewed my friend, Bill Penn, who gives legal advice to students at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, OR. http://www.bargainbabe.com
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The dirty truth about Subway’s free $2 gift cards
I was so pleased to receive a $2 gift card from Subway in the mail yesterday. I had signed up for it as part of a lawsuit settlement that said the sandwich chain had to give out 142,000 $2 gift cards to California residents in February. Then I tried to use the card. http://www.bargainbabe.com
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How do you get out of pricey social committments?
Money comes up all the time these days, but often in uncomfortable situations. One person wants to splurge, another is counting every penny. How to you handle it? I turned to…http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Why do we buy things we don’t need?
I wrote a fabulous post about why we overspend and rack up monstrous credit card debt for a blog called Man V Debt. Read my post here. http://www.bargainbabe.com
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UPDATE: Bargain ethics when it comes to parking tickets
My friend got a parking ticket while having dinner with me. Should I offer to pay half the ticket? Vote at http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Extreme marketing: job loss refunds
When deep discounts and buy-one-get-one free offers did not get customers in the door, businesses started offering refunds and “worry-free” guarantees in case of job loss. http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Too much of a good thing? Or another free $100?
A reader named Glenn wrote in with a pressing financial dilemma. Should he once again take advantage of a free $100 for setting up a bank account? Weigh in at http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Getting your partner to spend less
Couples spend differently and we don’t always spend the same amount of money, which is where it gets tricky. So how does a couple reconcile spending habits? Tips at http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Postage rates going up – buy Forever stamps now?!
The United States Post Office is raising their rates May 11, 2009, from 42 to 44 cents for a first class letter. You can buy Forever stamps now and use them after the rate hike, however. This saves you two cents per letter, or about a half of a percent. So is it worth it to hoard Forever stamps? http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Teach kids about money, pay for bank fees, deal with financial stress
Learn about three Web sites to teach kids about financial literacy, find out who is going to pay for riding FDIC fees at banks, and get techniques to deal with financial stress.
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How happy are you? An economic index.
How happy are you? A new ranking is based on foreclosures, unemployment and debt. Find out where you rank at http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Walking away from a home part II
Reader backlash from my post about a friend who stopped paying her mortgage: was I overly harsh? http://www.bargainbabe.com
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Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price.